Experienced midfielder Paul Murray didn’t exactly excite the fans when he signed for Pools in the summer of 2010. After a summer of speculation regarding large-scale investment in the club, the supporters could perhaps be forgiven for feeling a little underwhelmed when the biggest-name signing was a midfielder who was approaching his 34th birthday, and who had just been released by Shrewsbury Town in the division below. As it happens, Murray turned out to be an excellent signing. A consummate professional, he added vital knowhow to the midfield, routinely winning possession and keeping it. He was runner-up to Antony Sweeney for Player of the Year in his debut season, and went one better by winning the accolade a year later. During the 2012/13 season, with his influence perhaps on the wane, Murray was released as Pools fought to stay in line with Football League budgetary constraints. He re-joined Oldham Athletic, a club where he had spent three successful seasons a decade earlier. Murray was back at the Vic less than two years later when he was appointed manager in the wake of Colin Cooper's resignation. Pools were bottom of the Football League when Murray arrived and he might have hoped for a decent crack of the whip as he tried to turn things around. He got just 45 days before being sacked the morning after Pools were knocked out of the FA Cup on live television by Northern Premier League side Blyth Spartans.